After almost three days of debate and frame-by-frame analysis, the NHL ruled on Wednesday afternoon that Penguins forward Matt Cooke will not be suspended for his hit on Boston's Marc Savard. Savard, who suffered a grade II concussion as a result of the play, could be out for the remainder of the regular season, which of course is a huge loss for a Boston team that is already one of the worst offensive clubs in the league. Cooke has already been suspended once this season, receiving a two-game banishment for a hit on New York Rangers forward Artem Anisimov.
The non-suspension of Cooke is sure to draw mixed reviews. On one hand, there's no question it's a very dangerous hit, but according to the current (emphasis on current) rules, it's not really illegal -- even though many, including yours truly, think it should be. Plus, Philadelphia's Mike Richards escaped suspension for a nearly identical hit on Florida's David Booth, which resulted in a similar injury as well as Booth being sidelined for months of the NHL season and losing a likely spot on the U.S. Olympic team.
While Cooke and Richards avoided punishment this season, players that deliver such crushing blows to the head likely won't be as fortunate in future seasons. On Wednesday, NHL general managers unanimously agreed on a proposal that would penalize any "lateral, back pressure or blindside hit to an opponent where the head is targeted."
The Penguins and Bruins will be facing off on Thursday, March 18, in Boston in what is sure to be a polite, friendly game.
Comments (Page 1 of 3)
The Bruins cannot allow Sidney Crosby to finish the game on Thursday.
One Mission..no matter what the Coaches say...make them pay.
I am so, so angry. If I were Richards, I would be embarrassed to have anything in common with Matt Cooke
Since it was legal I encourage all players to hit Sid the Kid in a similar manner. When he misses the rest of the season ask Matt Cooke how he likes it
What a joke. What frame by frame did the NHL look at to make this determination. Two players injured and out at a critical time of the season. I've said this before, what will it take to get them to take these hits seriously. Would a player becoming disabled get their attention ? The player that throws the cheap shot should be suspended without pay for as long as the player hit is out. maybe that will get their attention.
Using Campbell's logic, how did McClaren get suspended for his hit on Richard Zednick? Same situation, hit him with the upper part of his arm, only difference was he was in front of Zednick and Zednick played for Montreal.....
I am a Penguin fan but I don't agree with the decision not to suspend Matt Cooke. I also felt Mike Richards should have been suspended. The logic for not suspending Cooke was that Richards wasn't, wow! Two wrongs don't make a right. What the NHL has done is made it open season for head shots. The next player who lays out an opponent with a similar hit. They couldn't suspend the next player who does it based on the precedent that Cooke and Richards weren't for similar hits and the NHL has to remain consistant with past decisions. What will it take a player to be paralized of killed before they say no to head shots?
Crosby didn't do anything to Savard, Matt Cooke did. If a Boston player goes after Cooke so be it. If anyone goes after Crosby he is no better than Cooke. Then what's next a Penguin going after another Bruin star to avenge Crosby, Then another Bruin going after Malkin and so on. It has to stop somewhere.
its not that Sid went went after Savard, because your right, he didn't. BUT Savard is one of our better players, and with our offense hurting already, it takes a lot out. Just like if Sid was injured and not able to play. Thats old school hockey. But if the Bruins act like they did after the hit, Sid shouldn't have to worry.
This is actually pretty true... good thing Savard is really the onlyyy bruins star, other than Chara. But good luck to whoever takes a run at HIM. I'm sure Cooke will pay his dues either way.
But of course, the moral is that this is the leaugue's job, if another player get's injured because of some vigilante nonsense, maybe it'll wake them up to the fact that THEY are responsible for keeping the players disciplined, and safe (like they need any further wake up calls)
Why go after Crosby? Well let's see, Cooke went after a star player for the Bruins...That's why! Does that make it fair, ABSOLUTELY NOT (and I'm with you as to why it shouldn't happen), but the fact still remains a star/key player for the Bruins was taken out. Cooke will get a tap on the shoulder for a friendly scrum but I would'nt be surprised if they went after Crosby, Malkin, or any other. Personally I'd laugh if they went after Gonchar for his hit on Clutterbuck earlier in the season. Then I'd laugh. Either way, no matter the outcome, it should be an interesting game.
Old time hockey the way it should be playing.Keep your head's up next time Savard.Go Caps Go
Hard to keep your head up when you are getting ready to shoot a puck in a DEFENSELSS POSITION!!
Not only were four officials blind to the hit, now the NHL League office is saying it's ok to hit people blindside in the head. I can't wait to watch the game this weekend. The Bruins will take care of policing the ice themselves !!! Watch out Cooke, that is if you play and don't come up with some fake injury to keep you out of the game instead !!!! If crosby got hit like that by Thorton he'd be banished from the league. You blew this one Campbell, now you can clean up the blood this weekend !!!!!
You say "I can't wait to watch the game this weekend."....that is apparently what the NHL wants to happen. The more blood and gore, the better....and more people will want to watch the game. Well, to me, that is not what I watch hockey for. Retribution is taken, resulting in more blood and injuries. This is what the game has been reduced to, and you have to wonder....is it WORTH watching this crap anymore. I'm not so sure myself anymore.
Forget Sid the Kid, take out Cooke, Crosby didn't do anything
The nhl is a joke and has been for years! Now if someone in NASCAR tried to take someone out...... OOPS wrong example!!!!
espadon58- stupid comment, doesn't matter if your head is up or down when you get hit from the blindside !! you wouldn't be saying that if it was Alexander the Great !!!
What would Dave Schultz or Tiger Williams have done!!!! remember old time hockey!!!
Steve, I don't think Cooke targeted Savard, he was just the guy that was in the wrong place at the wrong time. whoever was unlucky enough to be there would have gotten creamed. The Bruins are fighting for a playoff spot and losing a player like Savard really sucks. My point is that if someone goes after Cooke that's justice, if someone goes after Crosby what's next? The Penguins will have Mike Rupp and probablly Eric Godard in the lineup, will they go after another Bruin, then what another Bruin goes after Malkin or Gonchar. then what's next. The lunacy hast to stop somewhere. Unfortunately the NHL dropped the ball big time here.